Single use film developer and automatic, rupturable developer package therefor

ABSTRACT

The developer package is provided with rupturable means that permit the developer fluid to be discharged automatically into a rigid container as the coupled film and developer packages are drawn therethrough.

United States Patent 1 1 0,466

Bowlby [4 Aug. 1, 1972 [541 SINGLE USE FILM DEVELOPER AND [56]References Cited AUTOMATIC, RUPTURABLE DEVELOPER PACKAGE THEREFOR UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 3,195,436 7/1965 Decrop ..95/90 [72] Invenm" 33 5 2;32:252 53%; 3,280,718 10/1966 Decrop ..95/9o 3,379,879 4/1968 Dicker eta1. ..95/90 x [22] Filed: Oct. 5, 1970 21 App] 77 7 PrimaryExaminer-Samuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner-Richard L. MosesAttorney-Leonard H. King [52] US. Cl ..95/90, 95/13, 95/89 R,

96/76 R, 250/69 TR 4 [51] Int. Cl. ..G03d l/02 [57] ABS CT [58] Field ofSearch ...95/89 R, 89 L, 90, 13; 250/65, The developer package isprovided with rupturable 250/68, 69; 96/76 R means that permit thedeveloper fluid to be discharged automatically into a rigid container asthe coupled film and developer packages are drawn therethrough.

18 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PATTEDAue 1 m2 SHEET 1 BF 3 INVENTOR.

AMES 304043 ATTORNEY PATENIED B 7 3.680,466

INVENTOR. Ji/wzs [4 may SINGLE USE FILM DEVELOPER AND AUTOMATIC,RUPTURABLE DEVELOPER PACKAGE THEREFOR This invention relates generallyto the photographic arts and more particularly to improvements in a lowcost film developer that is disposable after a single use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A need exists for a low cost, simpledeveloping apparatus for exposed, light-sensitive film. X-rays haveon-the-site applications such as at accident scenes and during militaryoperations. There are also industrial uses for on-the-site X-rays forinspection purposes and the like. While it is highly desirable that theX-ray film be developed as promptly as possible, this is frequently notdone because dark room facilities are usually remote. There mustnecessarily be a time delay between film exposure and processing thatcould prove costly.

An example of apparatus to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art inthis field is disclosed in my copending application, Ser. No. 760,23 1filed on Sept. 17, 1968. Therein a system is disclosed which utilizes asupply of film developer contained within a rigid compartment. Theexposed film is attached to a pull tab which is then drawn through thedeveloper, carrying with it the exposed film.

Another copending application, Ser. No. 814,243, filed Apr. 8, 1969,discloses an improvement over the first filed application in that alength of exposed film is coupled to a pliable package containing afluid composition for treating the film. The pliable package and thefilm are drawn through a rigid container that applies a force to thepliable package so that the fluid is discharged therefrom into the rigidcontainer and onto the film.

Still other examples of the prior art are U.S. Pat. No. 3,379,8 79issued to RT. Dicker et al. on Apr. 23, 1968 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,430,042granted on Feb. 25, 1969 to V. Neri. Both of these last mentionedpatents relate to devices for developing dental X-ray film and providethat both the film and the processing fluid are in the same package. Thedisadvantage of the prior art structure is that there is always thepossibility of leakage of the processing fluid. By way of contrast, thepresent invention permits remote usage of the X-ray film which is thencoupled to a processor for development. The prior art requires that theprocessing fluid be dispensed onto the film instead of moving the filmthrough and out of the processing fluid in accordance with the conceptof this invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An improvement that will be discussed in detailhereinafter is the means for automatically opening the package ofdeveloper fluid so that it may be discharged into its rigid containerjust prior to pulling the film therethrough. At least one tab is formedon the pliable developer package containing the fluid film treatingcomposition. The tab isheat sealed between opposed layers of the rigiddeveloper container so that when the pliable developer package is pulledit is torn in the area adjacent the captured tab. Alternatively twoopposed tabs may be employed. Another alternative is to provide astarting cut adjacent the juncture of the tab and the body of thepliable developer bag.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention to provide animproved, low cost, single use film developing pack.

An advantage of this invention is that the improved film developing packdescribed above does not require the use of a conventional darkroom.

Still another object of this invention is to provide improved means forautomatically opening the pliable package containing the film treatingfluid and dispensing the fluid into its rigid container.

An additional object of this invention is to provide the automaticdispensing of the film treating fluid by capturing a portion of apliable fluid package in a rigid container so that the pliable packageis torn when it is pulled.

A further object of this invention is to provide the automaticdispensing of the film treating fluid, as described above, by forming atleast one projection on the pliable developer package and capturing theprojection in the rigid container.

Another object of this invention is to provide the automatic dispensingof the film treating fluid, as described above, including a starting cutadjacent the juncture of the projection and the pliable developerpackage.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will,in part, be pointed out with particulan'ty and will, in part, becomeobvious from the following more detailed description of the inventiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which forms anintegral part thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the various figures of the drawinglike reference characters designate like parts.

IN THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a plan view of the film holder comprising thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1 but with the coupling means ofthis invention shown in the bent or folded condition and with an outerpack shown in phantom;

FIG. 3A is a fragmentary plan view, on an enlarged scale, illustrating alight seal arrangement for the film holder;

FIG. 4 is a sectional side elevational view, on an enlarged scale, takenalong line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view similar to FIG. 3, with a portion broken away andpartially in section, showing the outer pack in solid outline with thecoupling means extending therethrough;

FIG. 6 is a plan view, partially broken away and partially in section,illustrating the combined pliable film holder, pliable developer packand rigid developer container of this invention in their physicalrelationship preliminary to developing;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view, in section and on anenlarged scale, taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the film holder and developer pack in thecoupled condition, a portion of the developer container having beenremoved to show an intermediate stage in the usage of the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view, similar to FIG. 8, showing the filmpositioned in the developer container and with the empty developerpackage uncoupled;

FIG. 10 is another fragmentary side elevational view in section on anenlarged scale illustrating a feature of the developer container;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary plan view of a coupled length of film and adeveloper package illustrating another feature of this invention, thedeveloper container being removed for clarity.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary plan view with the developer containerpartially broken away illustrating the relationship of the pliable andrigid portions of the developer package and developer container,respectively; and

FIG. 13 is a plan view similar to FIG. 12 showing the pliable developerpackage almost completely removed and with thefilrn almost completelypositioned within the rigid developer container.

Referring now to the drawing, and in particular to FIGS. 14, there isshown the film holder portion 20 of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 4 a length of film 22 is positioned between layers of protectivesheets 24a, 24b. such as paper, for example. The paper layers 24a, 24bprotect the emulsion on the film 22 from light rays and also keep thefilm 22 from sticking and from being scratched as it is pulled. A layerof lead 26 may also be provided for protective purposes. The severallayers just described are packaged in an opaque, pliable plastic holder28 which is positioned in an opaque outer pack 30.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 3A and 4, means made of a heat sealable-plasticmaterial are provided for making the, pliable film holder 28light-tight. The upper layer 32 of the film holder 28 is shorter thanthe lower layer 34, the end 36 of which is folded over as shown in FIG.4. The two layers 32 and 34 are heat sealed along side edges 38 as wellas along end 40. This construction defines a film holder that is open atonly one end.

The end 36 is bent into a U-shape as shown in FIG. 4 and then is foldedover the top layer 32 as best shown in FIG. 3. As is common with allenvelopes, the comers defined by the junctures of the sides and the endtherebetween will have a slight opening. In letter envelopes, forexample, this opening is advantageous since it acts as a vent. However,for the present application, any such opening would be deleterious,since it could easily permit entry of light. This problem is overcome bya small angularly placed heat seal 42 as shown in FIG. 3 and in FIG. 3Aon an enlarged scale. It should be particularly noted that the heat sealis very small and does not interfere with the opening of the film holder28. For all practical purposes, the end 36 may be considered as beingfunctionally open but with provisions being made at the comers to closethe vent holes.

In order to provide coupling means for the pliable film holder 28 a tabcomprised of two layers of pliable plastic film 50 is secured to the endof the film 22 adjacent the open end 36 of the container 28. The tab 50is first folded so as to be positioned between the upper layer 32 andthe inner surface of the folded over end 36 of the film holder 28. Thetab 50 is then reverse-folded over the outer surface of the end 36 todefine, together therewith, an S-shaped bend. Thus the film tab 50 isintertwined with the end 36 of the pliable film holder 28. As will bedescribed later, the folded over end 36 is opened automatically when thefilm 22 is pulled to the right. Registered holes 52 are suitably formedin the free end of the tab 50 and a rigid plastic tooth 54 is suitablysecured between the layers 50 at the free end thereof so as to extendthrough the registered openings 52.

The opaque, relatively rigid outer pack 30 is heat sealed about thepliable film holder 28. The outer pack 30 is comprised of upper andlower layers 62 and 64, respectively, that are heat sealed to each otheralong at least the side-edges 66 and the end edge 68. The other end edge70 that is adjacent the tooth 54 is provided with a notch 72 throughwhich the tooth 54 projects. There is thus provided a compact, readilyopened film container 20 that is light-tight and which can be stored fora great length of time without adversely affecting the condition of thefilm therein.

FIGS. 6 10 illustrate how the film holder 28 is coupled to a pliabledeveloper package and also how the invention is used. The developerpackage 80, which will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter inconnection with another aspect of this invention, is made of two heatsealed layers 82 of a suitable plastic. A pull tab 84 is providedintegrally at one end of the developer package 80 and a coupling tab 86,having an opening 88 therein, is provided integrally at the other end ofthe developer package 80. As will be explained below, the tooth 54 isadapted to be hooked into the opening 88 when the developer package 80is pulled to the right. As shown in FIGS. 6-10 the film 22 will bewithdrawn from the film holder 28 and, together with the developerpackage 80, will be drawn through a developer container 90 which willnow be described.

The coupling arrangement described above provides reliable mechanicalmeans that overcome problems inherent with an adhesive type offastening. Where tape or other form of adhesive bond is used forcoupling purposes, there is the possibility of a loss of holding powerif exposed to air or moisture.

The developer container 90 is formed of two opposed rigid layers 92 and94 of a suitable plastic which are heat sealed along longitudinal edges96 and 98. The layers 92 and 94 are spaced from each other to define adeveloper chamber 100 and an entrance chamber 102. A first transverserib 104 separates the two chambers 100 and 102 and a second transverserib 106 defines the opposite end of the developer chamber. One of thetwo layers 92 and 94 is formed with a recess 107 in the entrance chamber102 in order to accommodate the coupled portion of the film holder 28and developer package 80 as shown in FIG. 7. In the assembled conditionthe recess 107 is aligned with the holes 52 in the tab 50. The recess107 permits the tooth S4 to snap into place when it is inserted.

When the developer package 80 is pulled to the right, as shown in FIGS.6 10, the film 22 is drawn out of the film holder 28. In this connectionit should be noted that the entrance chamber 102 is provided withlongitudinal walls 108 and 110 (FIGS. 6,8 and 9) that converge in thedirection of the pulling force in order to bear against and resistfurther inward movement of the film holder 28 and the rigid container30. When the film 22 is positioned within the developer chamber 100 thetab 50 is exposed at the right hand end of the developer container 90and is automatically uncoupled from the developer package 80, as shownin FIG. 10. Because the uncoupling is automatic the film 22 cannot beinadvertently drawn too far to the right. After a predetermined time haselapsed the film 22 is manually withdrawn from the developer chamber100, using the tab 50 for this purpose.

As shown particularly in FIGS. 7 and 10, the right hand end of thedeveloper container 90 is formed with opposed, enlarged transverserecesses 112a and 112b. Resilient squeegee means 114 and 116 are securedin the recesses 112a and 112b, respectively, in closely spacedopposition to each other so that the film can be drawn therebetween. Thesqueegee means 114 and 116 squeeze dry the film in order to removeexcess fluid and in addition compresses the film emulsion which becomeshard and easier to handle.

The squeegee arrangement described above is advantageous since adeveloping agent (more notably in monobaths has a monobaths) has toswell or blister the emulsion coating of film. This creates an extremelysoft emulsion so that the film 22 and often leads to cracking andpeeling of the emulsion. As a result caution must be exercised in thehandling of the film in the wet condition. The use of the resilientsqueegee means 114 and 116 assures that the film emulsion does notbecome severely swollen or soft so that the film22 may be safely handledimmediately after removal from the developer chamber 100.

In order to prevent any distortion of the developer package 80 as aresult of the pressure applied, the squeegee means 114 and 116 areoffset as shown in FIGS. 7 and 10. An effective wiper seal is provided.The developer container 90 can expand at the pressure area withoutdistorting the developer package 80.

A simple yet effective means for automatically releasing the fluid fromthe developer package 80 concurrently with the pulling thereof isdisclosed in FIGS. ll-l3. The developer package 80 is provided with atleast one laterally extending tab 118 that is heat sealed between thelongitudinal edges of the two opposed layers 92 and 94. Although twotabs 118 are illustrated in FIGS. 11-13, one tab 118 will besufficiently effective. As the developer package 80 is pulled to theright, the captured tab 118 will remain in place thereby tearing thedeveloper package 80 so that the contents thereof may be discharged intothe developer chamber 100 just prior to the arrival of the film 22. Toaid in the tearing process of the developer package 80, a starting out120 may be provided although this is not absolutely essential. In anyevent the developer package 80 is completely sealed initially. Thetransverse ribs 104 and 106 act as barriers to prevent loss of thefluid. Since the developer fluid is sealed in an air-tight package, itcan be mixed and filled under nitrogen conditions and then easily storedand handled without oxidation.

As used herein the term developer fluid is generic to all film treatingfluids. Similarly, where heat seals have been indicated other equivalentsealing means may be employed. Although the plastic materials have notbeen specifically identified, it is evident that the proper selection iswell within the skill of a competent designer, consistent ,with theusage of the invention, particularly as concerns the film treatingfluids and types of seals that are used. In this connection it should benoted that the term plastic includes fibrous material such as paper, forexample, wherein a coating of plastic is applied to at least one surfacethereof. The

particular plastic selected for either the coating or the sheet itselfshould be consistent with the ultimate usage thereof namely heatsealing, opacity, imperviousness to a particular fluid, etc.

There has been disclosed heretofore the best embodiment of the inventionpresently contemplated. However, it is to be understood that variouschanges and modifications may be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An improved package for a fluid, film treating composition used witha disposable processor for exposed, light sensitive film, the processorincluding a rigid container having a chamber in which said package isinitially positioned and into which chamber the fluid is adapted to bedispensed when said package is drawn therethrough, said packagecomprising:

a. an envelope sealingly containing the fluid, film treatingcomposition;

b. tab means integral with a portion of said envelope and secured to thecontainer whereby when said envelope is drawn therefrom said tab meanswill be torn from said envelope and thereby provide communicationbetween the interior of said envelope and the chamber.

2. The package in accordance with claim 1 wherein said envelope is madefrom a fluid impervious material.

3. The package in accordance with claim 1 wherein said tab meanscomprises at least one lateral extension of said envelope.

4. The package in accordance with claim 3 wherein said extensionincludes a starting cut to facilitate the tearing thereof.

5. The package in accordance with claim 1 wherein said tab meanscomprise a lateral extension on each side of said envelope.

6. The package in accordance with claim 1 wherein said envelope furtherincludes a finger gripping extension at the downstream end thereof, saidfinger gripping extension being normally positioned outside of thecontainer.

7. The package in accordance with claim 1 wherein said envelope furtherincludes means at the upstream end thereof for coupling the filmthereto.

8. A disposable processor for exposed, light sensitive film, saidprocessor comprising the combination of:

a. a container having a chamber therein;

b. a developer package positioned in said chamber,

said developer package comprising a sealed, rupturable envelopecontaining a fluid, film treating composition;

c. tab means integral with a portion of said envelope and secured tosaid container whereby said envelope is drawn from said chamber said tabis torn to thereby rupture said envelope to permit said fluid to entersaid chamber; and

d. means for coupling said envelope to the film whereby the film ispositioned in said chamber after said ruptured envelope is drawn fromsaid chamber.

9. The processor in accordance with claim 8 wherein said envelope ismade from a fluid impervious material.

10. The processor in accordance with claim 8 rigid containerhavingachamber in which said package wherein said tab means comprises atleast one lateral is initially positioned and into which chamber thefluid extension of said envelope. is adapted to be dispensed when saidpackage is drawn 11. The processor in accordance with claim 10therethrough, said package comprising: wherein said extension includes astarting cut to a. an envelope sealingly containing the fluid, filmfacilitate the tearing thereof. treating composition;

12. The processor in accordance with claim 8 b. tab means integral withand extending laterally wherein said tab means comprise a lateralextension on from e h ide Of Said nvelope an ecured t0 he each side ofsaid envelope. container, each said extension including a starting 13.The .processor in accordan e ith lai 12 cut for facilitating the tearingthereof, whereby wherein each said extension includes a starting cut towhen Said envelope is drawn from Said Container facilitate the tearingthereof, said tab means will be torn from said envelope and 14. Theprocessor in accordance with claim 8 thereby liimvide communicationbetween the wherein said envelope further includes a finger tel'iorOfsaid envelope and the Chambgrgripping extension at the downstream endthereof, said 15 The Package in accordan with Claim 1 finger grippingextension being normally positioned wherein Said envelope furtherincludes a finger outside of said c t i gripping extension at thedownstream end thereof, said 15. The processor in accordance with claim8 fingflar pp extension being normally Positioned wherein said envelopefurther includes means at the Outslde ofthe containe? upstream endthereof for coupling the film thereto. 20 Package accordance Wlth Claim14 16, A i d package f a fl id fil treating wherein said envelopefurther includes means at the composition used with a disposableprocessor for exupstream end thereoffol' Couphng the film thereto posed,light sensitive film, the processor including a

1. An improved package for a fluid, film treating composition used witha disposable processor for exposed, light sensitive film, the processorincluding a rigid container having a chamber in which said package isinitially positioned and into which chamber the fluid is adapted to bedispensed when said package is drawn therethrough, said packagecomprising: a. an envelope sealingly containing the fluid, film treatingcomposition; b. tab means integral with a portion of said envelope andsecured to the container whereby when said envelope is drawn therefromsaid tab means will be torn from said envelope and thereby providecommunication between the interior of said envelope and the chamber. 2.The package in accordance with claim 1 wherein said envelope is madefrom a fluid impervious material.
 3. The package in accordance withclaim 1 wherein said tab means comprises at least one lateral extensionof said envelope.
 4. The package in accordance with claim 3 wherein saidextension includes a starting cut to facilitate the tearing thereof. 5.The package in accordance with claim 1 wherein said tab means comprise alateral extension on each side of said envelope.
 6. The package inaccordance with claim 1 wherein said envelope further includes a fingergripping extension at the downstream end thereof, said finger grippingextension being normally positioned outside of the container.
 7. Thepackage in accordance with claim 1 wherein said envelope furtherincludes means at the upstream end thereof for coupling the filmthereto.
 8. A disposable processor for exposed, light sensitive film,said processor comprising the combination of: a. a container having achamber therein; b. a developer package positioned in said chamber, saiddeveloper package comprising a sealed, rupturable envelope containing afluid, film treating composition; c. tab means integral with a portionof said envelope and secured to said container whereby said envelope isdRawn from said chamber said tab is torn to thereby rupture saidenvelope to permit said fluid to enter said chamber; and d. means forcoupling said envelope to the film whereby the film is positioned insaid chamber after said ruptured envelope is drawn from said chamber. 9.The processor in accordance with claim 8 wherein said envelope is madefrom a fluid impervious material.
 10. The processor in accordance withclaim 8 wherein said tab means comprises at least one lateral extensionof said envelope.
 11. The processor in accordance with claim 10 whereinsaid extension includes a starting cut to facilitate the tearingthereof.
 12. The processor in accordance with claim 8 wherein said tabmeans comprise a lateral extension on each side of said envelope. 13.The processor in accordance with claim 12 wherein each said extensionincludes a starting cut to facilitate the tearing thereof.
 14. Theprocessor in accordance with claim 8 wherein said envelope furtherincludes a finger gripping extension at the downstream end thereof, saidfinger gripping extension being normally positioned outside of saidcontainer.
 15. The processor in accordance with claim 8 wherein saidenvelope further includes means at the upstream end thereof for couplingthe film thereto.
 16. An improved package for a fluid, film treatingcomposition used with a disposable processor for exposed, lightsensitive film, the processor including a rigid container having achamber in which said package is initially positioned and into whichchamber the fluid is adapted to be dispensed when said package is drawntherethrough, said package comprising: a. an envelope sealinglycontaining the fluid, film treating composition; b. tab means integralwith and extending laterally from each side of said envelope and securedto the container, each said extension including a starting cut forfacilitating the tearing thereof, whereby when said envelope is drawnfrom said container said tab means will be torn from said envelope andthereby provide communication between the interior of said envelope andthe chamber.
 17. The package in accordance with claim 14 wherein saidenvelope further includes a finger gripping extension at the downstreamend thereof, said finger gripping extension being normally positionedoutside of the container.
 18. The package in accordance with claim 14wherein said envelope further includes means at the upstream end thereoffor coupling the film thereto.